Montreal hit-and-run taxi YouTube video lands driver in court

MONTREAL — A 47-year-old taxi driver was in court Monday to face charges after a man, 23, was run over in Montreal early Sunday morning.

Guercy Edmond appeared before a judge at the Montreal courthouse where he was charged with assault causing bodily harm, among other things. His bail hearing was set for Wednesday.

“He was under attack,” Edmond’s lawyer said afterward.

The man was struck in Montreal’s Plateau area after he slid off the cab’s hood during in a 4 a.m. street-corner dispute that turned violent, was recorded and put on YouTube.

The injured man was in stable condition in hospital Monday. His condition had initially been classified as critical.

According to police, the man was among a group of young people who got into an argument that turned violent.

As the dispute became heated, several people started to vandalize the taxi.

The video shows the driver running over the man — who had just slid off his hood — with his left front wheel, and then with his left rear wheel before leaving the scene.

Warning: Graphic video content

Another man who had been in the confrontation — who earlier in the video jumped onto the cab’s trunk, then onto its roof and front windshield before leaping off — has been released on a promise to make a later court appearance, Montreal police Const. Raphael Bergeron said.

According to a note accompanying the video, the dispute began when a passenger slammed the cab’s door with excessive force.

Bergeron said investigators are aware of “at least two” videos taken during the incident and “possibly more.”

“The investigation continues,” the police spokesman added.

The cab driver’s wife was among a small group of people who showed up at the Montreal courthouse Monday. They said he has driven a taxi for about eight years and is a father of two.

The cabbie’s wife said people have often bolted from his taxi without paying, and someone had stolen his money at least once.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.